Proceeds from Barmoor turbines reach £57,000

Ian Smith

The EDF-ER Barmoor Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund has now committed funds from its first year of operation, with £57,000 distributed to community groups and projects around the fund area.

Grants from the latest round include £7,000 to Etal Village Hall for solar panels, which joins the village halls in Bowsden and Lowick in successfully securing funds for renewable energy.

Also benefitting is Etal Riding for the Disabled which brings together local volunteers to run horse riding sessions for disabled children and young people.

The charity will be able to buy new riding hats for members to keep up with new regulations.

In line with the fund’s aim to support biodiversity and habitat conservation, Save Our Squirrels (Berwick Group) received a grant to buy specialised motion sensor cameras as part of its survey work in the Kyloe red squirrel reserve. This will help the group better understand the movements of the native red squirrel.

The fund is open again for applications until 29 February 2016. It supports local charitable projects within a 10km radius of the wind farm, with those based within a 5km radius of the wind farm given priority for support.

Applications can be made online at www.communityfoundation.org.uk/apply; for further information please call Karen Daglish on 0191 222 0945 or emailing krd@communityfoundation.org.uk .